Gifted Community Enrichment: A Class for Grown-Ups

 

Week 1, October 10th
1) Welcome & Orientation

 

After signing children into their classrooms, we ask everyone to stay for the first 15 minutes as we cover the most up-to-date policies including safety and security measures.  Following that, speakers for the term will be announced. The remainder of the time will be opened up for Q&A.  Because there is a wealth of knowledge among us, we encourage both new and returning parents and guardians to stay for the duration.  Our program is enriched with the diversity of every person attending.
 
 

 

2) The Super Saturday Program Board
Survey of Interests and Needs of This Term’s Attendees

 

Whether attendees are just beginning to learn about giftedness or are tackling very particular challenges, we can draw upon our large community and accumulated resources to help.  The TSSP Board has a wealth of knowledge to help foster discussion.  We like to use the first session to answer questions about the program, to discover topics that you would like to see speakers address this year, and to facilitate discussion within an amazing resource (our TSSP families).
 
 

 

In the lobby: Scouts Popcorn Sales

 

One of our longtime students will be offering popcorn items to raise money for scouting.
 
 

Week 2, October 17th
Matt Zakreski​, Psy.D.
Riding Out the Storm: Managing Emotional Intensity in Gifted Children​

 

Dr. Zakreski has given Super Saturday one of his most requested presentations, inviting us to work together to deeply understand what living well with emotional intensity looks like.​

Maggie Gunnerson will open the session with background on the talk so it is accessible no matter your level of gifted experience or knowledge.  After playing the talk, Maggie will facilitate a discussion to integrate these strategies into daily life​.

Matt Zakreski, Psy.D., is a professional speaker and clinical psychologist who specializes in working with neurodivergent people.  He is the co-founder and lead psychologist of his practice in New Jersey, The Neurodiversity Collective, where he offers teletherapy, consulting, IQ testing, and coaching.  He is the author of The Neurodiversity Playbook: How Neurodivergent People Can Crack the Code of Living in a Neurotypical World.  He is a frequent guest on podcasts and local media.
 
 

In the lobby:
Cincinnati Animal CARE

For a long time, families have expressed interest in us bringing back classes having anything to do with animals.  While our volunteers continue to try to make that happen, we made a connection with a fellow Cincinnati nonprofit here to help animals, Cincinnati Animal CARE.

Cincy CARE volunteers will make the six minute drive from their shelter to visit us and answer questions about the needs of shelter animals (dogs, cats, bunnies, guinea pigs…), how their organization serves Hamilton County, and how you can get involved a little or a lot.  We encourage you to make plans to extend your time with us this Saturday and pack lunch.

Donations of new and gently used supplies can be dropped off during Cincy CARE’s visit.  On their website is a detailed list of donations they accept including:

• Wet and dry food
• Kongs and Toppls
• Small, medium, and large crates
• Dog leashes
• Long lasting treats
• Martingale collars
• Cat litter
• Kitten formula
• Canned chicken
• Blankets and towels
• Peanut butter

Various ways to make a virtual or monetary donation can be found at https://cincinnatianimalcare.org/donate/
 
 

 

Week 3, October 24th
Gwen Pace
Fostering Creative Problem Solvers with Skills for Lifelong Success​

 

Join Cincinnati local Gwen Pace as she shares what Destination Imagination is​, their value proposition, her own experience with the program​, how your family can get started​.  There will be low-stakes activities to try yourself then share with your child.​
 
 

Week 4, October 31st
Jamie Overbey
Problem Solving with Peers

Jamie Overbey will lead GCE attendees through an “adapted issue processing” exercise he employs with business executives but has specially tailored over several sessions for Super Saturday.  The exercise leverages the truth that many minds are better than one.  When business executives are brought together, they find their peers offer special capacity to relate and extend their problem-solving know-how.  The same is true when parents and caregivers of gifted are brought together, which may be a rarer occurrence.  Please bring your “How do I…?” questions, your challenges with your gifted child or their school, and your other issues for which you would like some creative problem-solving help.

Jamie Overbey is a Best Practice Chair and Chair of the Year 2025 with Vistage Worldwide, former TSSP volunteer, father of TSSP alumni, and long-time supporter of The Program.
 
 

Week 5, November 7th
Kerry Brown, MS, CLS​
Why Won’t My Kids Listen?​
—
Fearless Parenting​

In the first presentation, Kerry Brown will discuss how communicating with your child can feel like learning a foreign language.  She will offer techniques that foster connection and improve listening on both sides.​

In the second presentation, Brown talks about how to approach parenting with confidence and intentionality.  She will teach techniques to manage parenting anxieties​.

Kerry Brown is a Senior Parenting Specialist​ with Beech Acres Parenting Center.
 
 

Week 6, November 14th
Maggie Gunnerson
Cincinnati Area Mensa Gifted Youth Program
—
Highlights from the Annual Gifted Conferences

Maggie will discuss Mensa’s youth program, and why to consider it for your child​, eligibility requirements, the application process, and costs​.

Maggie Gunnerson’s biography can be found on the Inquire About Speakers page.
 
 

 

Spirit Wear Saturday

 

We are starting a new tradition and encouraging everyone to wear team or school spirit wear on the sixth Saturday of term.  Students are encouraged to don spirit wear for their Super Saturday team, another team they are a member of, a team they cheer for, or for the school they attend.  Grown ups are encouraged to represent, as well.  We hope this fosters getting to know each other better and appreciation for the broad Cincinnati area we have the opportunity to interact with through TSSP.
 
 

In the lobby:
Book* Swap

 

The last session of every term, The Program facilitates a book (*and puzzle, and board game…) exchange.  Is your home overflowing with books?  Do you have a voracious reader that you can’t keep up with?  Bring those children’s books you would like to pass along and pick up new-to-your-child books, whether or not you brought any.

A table will be set up near the doors to the cafe.

 
Note: On the last day of the term, some classes invite parents and guardians to view students’ work or a presentation.